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Anna Mary "Punxsy" Edmondson, 88

A legend is lost. Anna Mary "Punxsy" Edmondson, 88, of Punxsutawney, passed away Sunday, April 21, 2013, at her home.

Anna Mary was born April 17, 1925, in Punxsutawney, the daughter of Thomas F. Edmondson and Anna (Rozdilsky) Edmondson.

She was a member of SS. Cosmas & Damian Catholic Church.

In her young adult life, Anna Mary was employed by the Bryant Electric Company, a subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric Company, in Bridgeport, Conn., where she assembled gyros for torpedos that sunk two battleships
and a cruiser.

She ended her career at Bryant as the Boiler Room Manager.

She was given the name "Punxsy" because of her hometown.

She owned the Black Rock Bar & Grill in Connecticut and worked at the Cedar Brook in Westport, Conn., where she was fondly called "Annie."

She gained the reputation as one of Connecticut's best all-around girl athletes with her high level of skill in many sports.

While a resident of Bridgeport, she joined the Raybestos Brakettes in the East Coast Women's Softball League.

"Punxsy" played first base and had a seven-year batting average of .465.

With her home run hitting, she gained the reputation as the "Babe Ruth" of Connecticut softball.

In October of 1947, she reported to Florida to try out for the 1948 All-American Girls Baseball League.

The women from this era who played ball were the inspiration for the movie "A League of Their Own."

She also earned her election to the Connecticut Softball Hall of Fame in
1983.

She was a member of the Walston Club, Punxsutawney Eagles and the Army Navy Club.

Anna Mary was a kind and loving person who would do anything for anyone.

She is survived by her niece and friend, Janice Lombard Redding of Punxsutawney; great-nieces Erin and Maureen Redding of West Chester; great-great-niece Maura, also of West Chester; and a special niece, Linda Lombard of Seymour, Conn.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, infant Sharon Edmondson and Elizabeth Lombard.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at McCabe Funeral Home in Punxsutawney.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 25, 2013, at SS. Cosmas & Damian Catholic Church with Msgr. Joseph Riccardo as Celebrant.

Private interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association at 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, Texas 75231.